Pujante who managed to escape in the middle of the gun battle but was later arrested in a follow-up operation in his rented apartment in Barangay Munting Tubig.

Police recovered from the crime scene a caliber 45 pistol, magazine and six live ammunitions.

De Castro said the station received a call from intel operative P01 Michael De Ocampo at around 4:30 pm informing them that passengers of maroon Honda Sedan (Plate No. TJK-372) were carrying handguns and sighted at Barangay District 9.

He immediately dispatched troops and they later intercepted the vehicle in Barangay Lanatan.

However, the suspects alighted from the vehicle and fired at the police officers, prompting the latter to shoot back, leading to Casalla’s sudden demise and the arrest of four other suspects.

Recovered from the suspects’ possession were one caliber pistol, five sachets of suspected shabu and another five more grams of said illegal substance in a separate container.

Police found out that Casalla was previously arrested on April 19, 2016 for robbery while Pujante was included in the station’s drug watchlist.